Cricket Farming Knowledge Spreads to Khammouan Province

By Emma Dobson

Emma Dobson is a volunteer in Laos with Veterinarians without Borders/Vètèrinaires sans Frontiérs Canada

Last week 20 farmers from seven villages in Xaybouathong district, Khammouan province had the chance to experience cricket farming first hand. Through a project with Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières (AVSF), farmers interested in starting their own cricket farms made the journey north to learn more about this opportunity through a hands on learning experience. The hosts for the day were the villages of Phonthong and Naoh in Bolikhamxay province, who have been participating in a cricket-farming project with VWB since April 2015.

The day began at Phonthong with a welcome and some brief introductions. Next, it was time to see the insects in action. The first stop was a home that had been incubating cricket eggs. Farmers learned how to store the eggs, when they were ready to hatch, and what materials are best for eggs to be laid in. The next stop was a home with a cage of young crickets. Here, farmers learned about cage setups, pest control methods, proper watering techniques, and different foods crickets can be fed. As they approached the third home, cricket songs could be heard for the first time. This final stop in the village had a cage full of the sound-producing adults. Here, farmers learned about the final stages of production, harvesting techniques, and had any final questions answered. After a delicious lunch together in Phonthong (which included crickets), the farmers said their thanks and goodbyes and were off to the next village.

Farmers learning about eggs and the initial stages of cricket production.

In Naoh, farmers had a similar experience with the chance to visit three more cricket cages in various stages of development. At one home they were even able to see the egg laying take place. Many farmers came away from the visit eager to begin their own operation, with several of them inquiring about acquiring cricket eggs. After more thanks and goodbyes, the visiting farmers made the long drive back to their homes in the south.

Visiting six different set-ups in two different villages, farmers saw different approaches and techniques, and could ask the host farmers what was successful and what was not. Farmers from both host villages were keen to share their knowledge, and the visit gave them a chance to show what they had accomplished.

Farmers getting a close look inside a cricket cage.

Joining the farmers on this tour were four government officials from the Thakhek Provincial Agricultural and Forestry Office (PAFO), as well as two trainers from the Extension and Cooperative Department of the Boulikanxai District Agricultural and Forestry Office (DAFO). The following day these groups met at the Boulikanxai DAFO office where the trainers provided a session on how to prepare farmers to raise crickets. Topics included life cycle of crickets, cage design and construction, rearing and harvesting techniques, and well as effective ways of delivering the training to farmers. The hope is that with the help of AVSF, these government officials will conduct training sessions on cricket production to the farmers from Xaybouathong to help them begin their own cricket farms.

Government officials from Thakhek learning how to train cricket farmers.

Overall, the farmer-to-farmer exchange visit and training of trainers was a huge success. All participants came away from it with new knowledge and hands on experiences. We wish these farmers well in starting up their own cricket farms!